Wounded Warrior Cory Remsburg, Honored during State of the Union, Devotes 'Relentless Determination' to Recovery

First Lady Michelle Obama and the First Lady's other box guests applaud Army Ranger Cory Remsburg. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

During his State of the Union Address on January 28, President Barack Obama recognized the service of Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg, a 30-year-old Army Ranger who experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during his tenth deployment in Afghanistan and is now living with paralysis. It was an injury that initially put him in a coma, but thanks in part to his relentless determination and spirit, Cory has made significant progress in his recovery.

"Even now," said the president, "Cory is still blind in one eye. He still struggles on his left side. But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad Craig, and the community around him, Cory has grown stronger. Day by day, he's learned to speak again and stand again and walk again, and he's working toward the day when he can serve his country again. 'My recovery has not been easy,' he says. 'Nothing in life that's worth anything is easy.'

"Cory is here tonight. And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit."

"The response for Cory took my breath away," his father Craig tells the Reeve Foundation. "And this was such an important moment for Cory. He decided that he wanted to be a part of the president's speech in order to give wounded warriors a face, and to remind people that we're still at war, and that Americans continue to come home injured. We can't forget this."

The Long Road to RecoverySince being injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) on October 1, 2009, Cory has devoted himself to what his father calls "self-improvement." After three months spent in a coma, and three and a half years in various hospitals and facilities, he has returned home to Arizona, where he lives in a rented home about a mile from his parents.

His rehabilitation schedule lasts longer hours than many people devote to work. Every weekday morning, he gets up at six a.m. and takes a 25-mile van ride to his rehabilitation facility, where he spends four to six hours on physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Often, after dinner, he'll move to a workout room in the house, and work on bench press and curls, and other weight-lifting activities. Saturdays are an off day, and then on Sunday, when the weather is nice, he'll go out on his recumbent bicycle. "Cory's now up to 18 miles," says Craig.

Studies into severe traumatic brain injury have suggested that it's important to maximize rehabilitation during the first five years following the event, so Cory "refuses to miss out on a single second," explains dad. "Cory is driven by his tenacity and his determination to find independence in his life."

Reeve Foundation Chapter Plays Role in Cory's RecoveryWhen Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation partner the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association (AzSCIA) learned of Cory's story, they reached out to the Remsburgs to find out how they could be of help. The answer soon became clear.

With Craig and his wife working full-time jobs, figuring out Cory's transportation to and from rehabilitation fast became an issue. How to arrange for the proper vehicle for daily pickups, and also, how to pay for what would likely be a costly service?

Since May 2013, the AzSCIA has picked up Cory as part of their affordable accessible transportation program, which provides door-to-door service for those with mobility impairment and their families. Initially, the AzSCIA brought him home every weekday afternoon following his therapy, and recently, they began picking Cory up in the morning as well. The Reeve Foundation has twice awarded Quality of Life grants to fund this program.

On most days, driver Guillermo Zeledon has the pleasure of bringing Cory to and from his rehab sessions. "Cory is a very good guy, and outgoing. He likes to play around with me, speak Spanish, and his parents are always outside waiting for him when he gets home. It's a great family."

The AzSCIA offers a variety of transportation services through their program: day-to-day pickups, as well as for special events and groups. Typical vans, which are available for rent, are air conditioned, and can fit up to three power chairs and four able-bodied individuals, or four manual chairs and four able-bodied people.

Advocating for Fellow Wounded WarriorsAccording to his father, Cory is a "humble guy who doesn't love all the attention he's getting." But, he also sees an opportunity to advocate for fellow wounded warriors who may need help upon their return home to the United States. "Cory hopes to be able to pave the road for those who follow him," says Craig.

"Our family truly believes that we're the lucky ones, to still have Cory with us. And my son believes in giving back to others, and that this will be what defines him. He knows he's lucky to be alive, and he aims to show his appreciation by contributing as much as he can to society."

The Reeve Foundation Military and Veterans Program (MVP)The Reeve Foundation recognizes the importance of supporting those who have served our country, and is hard at work identifying programs to best help our wounded veterans. Currently, Reeve's Military and Veterans Program (MVP), founded in 2006, dedicates a minimum of $50,000 annually to fund military and veteran focused nonprofit organizations. Groups that have received money through this program include the United States Olympic Committee, Operation Home Front, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Disabled Sports USA, among many others.

Recently, the Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center convened a new Military & Veteran Advisory Council with the goal of further defining and supporting the needs of this community.

Council Co-Chair and Reeve Foundation Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator James Howard is a fellow disabled veteran who met Cory at a Special Forces Care Coalition conference several years back.

"Seeing Cory on TV at the presidential address amazed me at how far he has come. I can't say that I was surprised, however, because he holds himself to another standard that most people don't understand.

"The sixth stanza of the Ranger creed best describes him, and the way he goes about his life: 'Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.'

"He is a true American hero, a great example for others, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet him."

Tell us your storyTelling your story is one way to let anyone touched by paralysis know that they are not alone. We've created a place where you can share your journey for your benefit, and the benefit of others. Your story matters. Share it.

ADAPTADAPT has long history of organizing in the disability community and using civil disobedience and similar non- violent direct action tactics to achieve its goals. In 1983, as a project of the Atlantis Community in Denver, ADAPT began its national campaign for lifts on buses and access to public transit for people with disabilities. ADAPT started as American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit. For seven years ADAPT blocked buses in cities across the US to demonstrate the need for access to public transit. Many went to jail for the right to ride.

Advancing Independence: Modernizing Medicare and MedicaidAIMMM works to modernize Medicare and Medicaid in a way that both programs work in a far more coordinated and explicit fashion to further the goals set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act: Assuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities of all ages

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Air Force Wounded Warrior-AFW2The Air Force will take care of its Wounded Warriors. We will fully support the Office of the Secretary of Defense programs to keep highly skilled men and women on active duty. If this is not feasible, the Air Force will ensure Airmen receive enhanced assistance through the AFW2 program.

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Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the leading national organization serving and representing individuals, families and professionals who are touched by a life-altering, often devastating, traumatic brain injury (TBI). Together with its network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates, as well as hundreds of local chapters and support groups across the country, the BIAA provides information, education and support to assist the 3.17 million Americans currently living with traumatic brain injury and their families.

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Computer Electronic Accomodations Program (CAP)The Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) provides assistive technology and services to people with disabilities, Federal managers, supervisors, and IT professionals. CAP increases access to information and works to remove barriers to employment opportunities by eliminating the costs of assistive technology and accommodation solutions.

DREDF Disability Rights Education and Defense FundFounded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.

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Defense & Veterans Pain Management InitiativeEstablished in 2003, the Defense & Veterans Pain Management Initiative (DVPMI) seeks to improve the management of pain in military and civilian medicine. Through clinical research efforts, it has become a model for effective integration of acute and chronic pain medicine.

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RT 300 FES BikeRTI designs and markets innovative electrical stimulation ergometers to help people with a neurological impairment achieve their full potential.

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United Spinal AssociationOur mission is to improve the quality of life of all Americans living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), and post polio.

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US NavyThe purpose of this website is to provide information and news about the United States Navy to the general public.

US Marine CorpsThis is an official Marine Corps website, and is provided as a public service by the Marine Corps Division of Public Affairs.

US Air ForceAF.mil is provided as a public service by the Office of the Secretary of Air Force (Public Affairs).

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Paralysis Resource Center The Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center Information Specialists are reachable business weekdays, Monday through Friday, toll-free at 800-539-7309 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET. You may also schedule a call or send a message online.

The Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center Information Specialists are reachable business weekdays, Monday through Friday, toll-free at 800-539-7309 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern U.S. Time. International callers use 973-467-8270. You may also schedule a call or send a message online.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90PR3002, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship areencouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.